Apparatus for making printing-plates.



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No. 884,869, PATBNTED APR. 14, 1908.

- A J. 0. DE WOLF.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.10,19 08.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awe liken @mwmw D6 f WWM No. 884,369. PATENTED APR 14, 1908. v

. J. 0 DB WOLF.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTINGPLATES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1908. v

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nuemioz Jbim 0. 17611709" v OH. The stereotyped plate is next ta out, or, in some cases, both the plate and i0 I plate is srarrns PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN 0. DE WOLF, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS;

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PRINTING-PLATES.

ran e of usefulness is much more extensive.

In t e use of this apparatus I accomplish accuracy, neatness, economy and various other advantages, which will appear in the course of the more detailed description.

In modern newspaper work by far the most important-item is to save time in gettingout the printed page, and accordingly every energy and. facility of the entire plant, regardless of expense are commonly bent to the one object of speed or economy of time;

and as at present practiced the most aggrayating delay usual occurs in the stereotyp- 111g room. It is c stomarynow first to set the type with a linotype machine, then make a paper mach matrix therefrom and when the latter has hardened, bend it to the proper curvature within" a mold or casting box, clam it in place, closing the casting box, and t en pour the molten metal. After the latter haacooled sufiiciently to ermit of opieningrthe mold, the castin box is opened, the matrix is unlocked and is then stripped matrix are removed together and after wards separated. Then the stereotype plate is' finished, this process usually consisting ofremoving the sur lus metal at the edges and ends, proper y finishing the same so that they will fit on the cylindei' of the printing ress, and finally the back of the aved to a true form. The exact .order of these operations varies somewhat,

{but the above sets forth with practical correctness the operations-and-amount of work commonly employed. .It will be seen that time is wasted at each operation in waiting for the completion mi one part-of theprocess before commencing the next part andthat also much time is lost in waiting for the rrletal to cool andin'shaving the back to fit Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed. m 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,123.

Patented, April 14, 1908.

the cylinder, etc. Accordingly it is my object to save all. this wasted time.

In its preferred embodiment, as herein shown, my apparatus consists of means for delivering metal in an impressionable condition against a matrix by which said im' pressionable metal is at once impressed, the

pressing of the matrix into, the plastic impressionable surface of the type metal progressing evenly and continuously from one edge of the matrix to the other, and, while the matrix is being pressed into the metal at one region, the metal is being ermanently cooled and set at the previous y impressed region, and the matrix is being strip ed from the metal further along where the lhtter has become entirely set.

I do not herein claim the method or the article as these are expressly reserved for separate applications.

In the 'most complete embodiment of myinvention I provide means for bringing together progressively the moldable metal, i. e., the stereoty e metal rendered locall impressionable by heat, and the matrix in the presence of a chillin medium, so that the metal, f delivered sit or molten or semimolten, obtains its form or type impression from the matrix along a progressive line, or

narrow region, and is instantly caused to set. I prefer to em loy as thin a layer of metal as ossible in .or er that it may change from a reely fluid or highly molten condition to a plastic or impressionable condition instantly and thereby receive its impressed shape, and then 0001 or set etc. with the greatest rapidity and'accuracy This enables me to eliminate the highest degree the danger of shrinking and inaccuracy which has heretofore been due to, the'employment of a large body of metal and becauseof this feature of my inventionI have succeeded in eliminating entirely the necessity of shaving the back of the plate to fit the press. To this end I e'mploy a previously repared back capable of face of proper metal, such receiving said thin as stereotype metal.

, In the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1' is a centraL-lOngitudinal section-thereof Fig, 2 is a similar sectional view of afraglnent, thereof considerably enlarged; l lig, 3 is a sectional detail similar toFig. 1 excepfi g that its'hotvs-th g ofthe Parts as theyaredelivering v andready to begi op n in making the;

e completed plate next plate; Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of the water cooled portions of the apparatus, Fig. 5 being a substantially vertical section and Fig. 6 a nearly horizontal or oblique section for show ing the various cooling passages and also showing the shape of the edges, etc'., of the compound printing plate as it 1s being formed.

Mounted on a suitable base or frame 1 is a rotary cylinder 2 journaled at 3 in heavy up rights 4 and operated by any convenient means by a worm 5 and .worm wheel 6 driven by an electric motor or other source of power 7 shown as controlled by a rheostat lever 8, Fig. 5, adapted to be automatically tri ped by alug 9 and latch 10 or any other usua or preferred tripping mechanism for' automatically stopping the machine. At the lower righthand corner or side of the apparatus, see Fig. 1, is a water-cooled concave surface 11 for co6pcrating with the cylinder 2, and at the left thereof extending between the uprights 4 is a stripper blade or other stripping means 12 just above a transfer table 13 pivoted at 14 to the base 1 and normally held horizontal by a latch 15 operated by a handle 16,- and adapted to be tilted into the dotted position Fig. 1, for the purpose of delivering the strip ed matrix to a conveyer 17 so that it will fie in position for the operator to replace it in the machine for making a separate printing plate. The matrix 18 is placed in a delivery device or hopper 19, which I face with asbestos or other shield 20 for preventing the same from being injured by the heat which is in front thereof.

As is well known, type metal will stiffen or chill to an impressionable condition almost instantly if caused to strike a cooled surface in a thin layer or sheet, and hence, as it is much more convenient to deliver the metal in a fluid or actual molten condition and depend upon the cooling effect of the chilled metal of the rotary cylinder to check the highly fluid condition of the metal and chan e it to the doughy plastic or sluggishly mo ten condition which is necessary to render it impressionable in order that it may receive the impress of the matrix when the latter is pressed against it, I have shown the metal 21 as delivered in a highly fluid condition from a nozzle 22 of a pipe 23 through which the metal is pumped or otherwise delivered from a suitable source 24, being herein shown as delivered by ravity, a valve 25 controlling the inlet, and gas jets or other suitable heating means 26 being provided for maintaining the pipe 23 properly heated.

Any convenient means may be provided for cooling the cylinder 2, the latter being herein shown as having a water-jacket or suitable cooling means 27 over that ortion against which the molten metal is de ivered or caused to contact for producing the chilling effectthereon, as above explained. At the forward end of the cooled or water-jacketed portion of the cylinder 2 I rovide a transverse block 28 which also per orms the office of a dam or stop for the metal, as will presently be explained, over which the forward edge 29 of the matrix is adapted to be bent and clamped automatically by any suitable mechanism, such for instance as is commonly employed in printing presses, being herein shown as consisting of clamps'30 on a rod 31, rovided externally with a gear 7 32 operated y a toothed sector or rack 33 pivoted at 34 to the cylinder and held under downward tendency by a spring 35 as well as l y its own gravity, said sector rack having a shouldered engaging surface '36 for traveling on a cam ring 37-which has an incline 38 at another portion thereof, see Fig. 4. Thus when the cylinder is just reaching the position shown in Fig. 3, or rather is just passing forward from the position shown in Fig. 3t'l1e shculder36 drops from the shoulder 39 and thereby gives an instant rotary movement to the clamps 30, so that the clamping ends of the latter move inthe path shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and operate to clamp the forward edge 29 of the matrix tightly over the block 28 as shown in Figsjl and 2, holding the same tightly until said part 36 reaches the part 38 of the cam ring, whereupon theclamps are automatically rotated in an opposite direction, thereby releasing the matrix,

which because of its comparatively stiff nature and the fact that it has been bent over the angular block 28, springs out away from said block, to be engaged by'the strip er 12; This will be explained more at lengt i presently. The cavity 40 in the concave face 11 is beveled at its ends 41 as clearly shown in Fig. 6, thereby accurately forming the plate to its finished shape. The

water jackets are supplied with water by any well-known means, pipes 42 being indicated for the stationary water-jacket and axial pipes 43 being indicated for the cylinder jacket- While I do not intendto limit my invention, in all cases, to the employment of.

the extra thin layer or facing of type-metal previously mentioned, I prefer to employ said back or backing and accordingly the re ceiving surface of the cylinder is cut away at '44 to receive the back 45 on which the type face is secured and impressed, said cut-away portion 44 cooperating with the recess 40 in the concave shaper or receiving surface. Cooperating with the recess 44 of the cylinder is a stripping mechanism, which may be of any convenient kind, being herein shown as consisting of stri per heads 46 carried by rods 47 reciprocater by bell cranks 48 operated by a shaft 49 located in the cylinder to aline at proper intervals with a plunger 50 pivoted at 51 to a hand lever 52' pivotally mounted at 53 on the frame of the machine.

The back has previously been prepared with perfect accuracy and provided with suit-able means for permitting the metal to be automatically united thereto, as by entering holes 54 or dove-tailed grooves, scorings, or per- .includes the impressing of the ty e metal whether the latter is united to a hac r or constitutes the entire plate and whether it is de' livered in a molten condition or not, and whether the metal is rendered 1m ressionable by being originally entirely 'uid and' .then partiallv cooled at the local region where it is being im )ressed or by being originally set orhard ant then simply softened at the local region where it is being impressed. In either case the use of a previously prepared backing is advantageous as it permits all the necessarily slow back-forming part of the procedure to be performed previously, when time is not vital. Those slrilled'in the art will readily understand that the need for haste all occurs after thematrix is ready, so that whatever work can be done-towards the final finished plate previous to my impressing operation is of decided advantage in point of time.

The operation of iny apparatus is as follows: Let it be supposed that the machine is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the operator takes a back. 45 which prepared at any time convenient, as above explained, and'this back 45 hepla'ces on the recess 44 of the cylinder inithe position shown has been previously Y in Figs. 1 and 4. He then;placesamatrix 18 in the delivery device 19 so that its forward end is about in the position shown in Fig. 3. Thereupon he throws the starting lever 9, and themoment that the cylinder has rotated sufficiently to bring th e matrix and cylinder together the clamped automatically by the dogs 30 which swing from the position Fig. 3 to the clamping position Figs. 1 and 4, so that thereafter the matrix and back are moved forward together by the cylinder Meanwhile, the instant that the clamping of the matrix takes place the molten type metal 21 (herein shown in the preferred embodiment'of my. invention as restricted to the thin sheet-like,

' minimum amount for the facing or outside coat for the back-'45) is permitted to flow.

7 At this instant the top shoulder or ledge of the transverse block 28 isin position just beneath thenozzle 22, so that it acts as a dam to compel the momentary halt of the metal, and as this halting of the metal is against the chilled surface of the back45 (or if no back is 3.65

matrix is instantly employed, then against the chilledsurface of.

the cylinder itself), the highly fluid condition of the metal is instantly eliminated, t. 6., the metal is instantly stiffened sufficiently to prevent its flowing over and beyond. said dam, and sufficiently to cause it to form into a thin plastic, moldable or impressionable facing sheet on thefront of the back 45, with the result that whenthis facing of partially set stereotype metal immediately thereafter reaches the matrix it is in a condition to receive the imprint of the latter as the matrix is forced into compressing engagement with said impressionable metal. in this manner the permanent impress desired is instantly and progressively effected throughont the entire plate inasmuch as the rotary forward movement of the metal is continuous. The metal is rendered impressionable at the local region at or immediately prior to engagingwith the matrix and then as the matrix presses its molding face or front face into the soft impressionable metal the latter 1s immediately chilled still further, until, when it reaches the outgoing end of the apparatus, it is entirely and-permanently set so that the. matrix may be stripped off leaving the finished stereotype printing plate. The heated impressionable portion of the plate-is preferably maintained localized to the few transverse lines of matrix at theupper-end of the opening between the forming surface 11 and the back 45, said locally im ressionable condition being progressively si ifted rearwardly as the plate advances, until it has been shifted over the entire plate, which has then been entirely im ressed by the ,matrix. In the same manner t 1e cooling of the plate progressively shifts over the entire area of" the impressed plate. The moment that the impression in the softened metal is made the.

advance metal and the adjacent parts'are at once cooled by the water-jacketed portions of the cylinder and the mold 11. My apparatus maintains the metal in a softened or sluggishly molten condition at the initial contacting point of the back, metal and natrix, where the metal issimultaneously molded and set in permanent form and this is progressively accomplished over the entire surface. I prefer to. move simultaneously the matrix, metal and back, although I wish it understood that my invention includes any 7 means for accomphshmg the movement or progress of the heated i m ressionable region, the cooling region and t e forming region, with relationv to the matrix, the idea being .toprovide means for causing the forming of thestereoty e progressively over the ma- .trix, or inot er words to" renderthe metal locally impressionable by heat and progress,- ively shift said, loeal'bondition over the re-.

uired area ofthetmatrix', at the same time that said .lohally. lieated condition with a localized cooling (rendition, all until the entire ple fihe hfieniimnressed and cooled or set.

As the plate is being thus impressed and shaped by the matrix 1 8 and mold 11 along one narrow area or line thereof, the matrix and the same plate are being elsewhere separated from each-other. As shown, where all the parts move together, the cylinder 2 continues rotating forward until the cam stripped blade 12, which operates to remove metal.

the matrix progressively from the lower end of the printing plate whose upper end is still being impressed and formed. The operation is continuous, without any halting at any point. When the cylinder has arrived at approximately the position shown in Fig.

3 it is preferably automatically stopped by the tripping device 9 or any other suitable stopping mechanism, and the operator then pushes in the lever 52, which raises the stripped heads 46, thereby lifting the completed plate to be carried to the printing ress. As the plate has been formed with an impressed surface, as distinguished from a cast surface, and as said surface is thin and its permanent setting begins when it is still under pressure (said pressure being herein accomplished by the wedging of the matrix into pressing engagement with the impressionable metal, thereby forcing the irregularities of the matrix into the soft face of the metal) there is no resulting unevenness due to shrinkage or shifting in. position of the metal (as is invariably the case in ordinary casting), and also for the same reason no subsequent shaving of the metal is required in order to bring it to the proper thickness. And where the previously prepared back is employed the necessity for shaving the back is also done away with as the two parts of the,,composite plate have been formed to-' gether as they have been moved along in unison.

I wish to emphasize the fact just mentioned, that the impressing and cooling of the metal takes place while the metal and matrix are being pressed toward each other in the act of accomplishing the impressing of the printing surface into the impressionable This is one of the radically new and essential features of my invention which distinguishes it from what is commonly known in the art as casting. While it may be accomplished in various wa s, I prefer to accomplish it by the gradua movement of the matrix forward into the metal, the concave surface 11, at least in its upper portion, being for this reason very slightly eccentric to the opposite surface of the cylinder 2, so that the matrix ,is moved per endicularlv into the softened, but not liqui metal, being thereby forced into the metal delicately, accurately and yet unyieldingly as it is pulled or caused to slide over the massive unyielding support and guiding member 11. This gives exceedingly sharp definition, which is due no doubt to this compressing of the metal while cooling, or in other words,'to the perpendicular impressing of the matrix into the metal when the latter is in an impressionable condition. As the molding or impressing" is done progressively, the metal does not have to flow as heretofore a long distance in a thin mold, and this arrangement make it possible and feasible to cast a thin and perfect face upon the prepared back. i

My apparatus and method :if".1)i'ogres'sive impressing and simultaneous cooling prevent the cooling strains and distortion of the finished plate which have taken place in the making of printing plates hitherto when a large area has been cast and then the same large area cooled at all pi'iints at. once.

By the term impressing" l mean to distinguish from casting, 'i. r. the metal is rendered impressionable or plastic in the sense that when its surface is pressed an imprint is left, as a seal ring is impressed into sealing wax, for instance, and when the metal is rendered thus impressionable it is impressed by the matrix by relatively moving the metal and the matrix perpeinlicularly toward each other so that the matrix presses into the softened or impressionable metal. This results in leaving a permanent, clean cut iinpress in the plastic surface of the impressionable metal To accomplish this it is necessary that the matrix shall have an absolutely unyielding back-support, such as is provided by the concave surface 11, in order that the necessary pressure may be applied to the softened surface of the type metal to enable the matrix to press its imprint into the partially formed plastic plate as a'signet ring im resses the sealing wax above mentioned.

Fwish to make the distinction clear as to the difference between impressing and casting, as the latter term is commonly used in the art, inasmuch as. my invention does not relate to the progressive formation of the plate, considered alone, as the progressive formation of a late by ordinary casting (i. e, when the meta is in a fluid or readily flowing condition) is old in the'printers art (see for example patents of Goodale, 155,609, October 6, 1874, and Lyman 315,045, April 7,

1885) but relates to the progressive formation of the plate by causing the metal to assume an impressionable or plastic condition metal with a forcible tus, not dealing with the metal in the ordinary doughy surface of the impressionable metal I and hence. gives extremely sharp definition, whereas when fluid metal flows freely into the cavities of a mold such as a matrix, it not only fails to fill accurately and uniformly all the corners of the cavity, depending some-fl what on the direction in which the metal is permitted to flow, but when the metal shrinks upon subsequently cooling, it results i in a lack of proper definition. My appara i the condition of ordinary casting and not accomplishing casting, produces practically perfect plates having extremely s iarp and accurate efinition, simply because the metal is impressed by the matrix as distinguished from eing cast by pouring it into amold cavity which. it is permitted to fill as best it may in manner of casting.

As already stated, it will be understood that .my invention is capable ,of various modifications the details herein set forth except as otherwise specified inthe claims.

' material,

Having claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for making printing plates, comprising mechanism for juxtaposing a matrix and plate material, means for rendering said plate material locally im ressionable, means cooperating with said a ove means for progressively shifting said local condition over the required area of the plate material, and means for simultaneously and progressively pressing the matrix into said plate material at the region thus rendered ocally impressionable.

2. An apparatus for making printing plates, comprising mechanism for juxtaposing a matrix and plate material, means for rendering said plate material locally im ressionable, means cooperatingwith said ahove means for progressively shifting said local condition over the required area of; the plate means for simultaneously and rogressively pressing the matrix into said p ate material at the region thus rendered locally impressionable, and meansv forprogressively cooling the plate as it is impressed.

'3. An apparatus for making printing plates, comprising mechanism for juxtaposing a matrix and plate material, means for rendering said plate material locally im ressionable, means cooperating with said a ove means for progressively shifting said local condition over the required area of the plate material, means for simultaneously and rogressively pressing the matrix into said plate material at the region thus rendered locally impressionable, means for progressively cooling the plate as it isimpressed, and simultaneously operating means for progressively stripping the matrix from the plate as it is I cooled.

and that I am not limited to f described my invention, what'I the matrix 1s 4. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means for impressing the plate with the'matrix at one portion thereof, and means for simultaneously stripping the matrix from the plate at another portion thereof.

5. In-an apparatus for making printing plates, means for forming and impressing a plate with the matrix at one portion thereof, and simultaneousl operating means for stripping the matrix from the plate at another portion thereof. 6. In an apparatus for making printing plates, mechanism for progressively forming and impressing the plate with the matrix, and means for progressively stripping the matrix from the impressed plate, all as a continuous operation.

7. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means for remdvably receiving a previously formed back, means for applying thereto a surface la *er of plate metal, means or rendering said p ate metal locally impressionable, and means for simultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the matrix.

8. In an a paratus for making printing plates, means fhr removably receiving a previously formed back, means for applying thereto a surface layer of plate metal, means for rendering said plate metal locally impressi0nable, means for simultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the means, operating while said impressing by proceeding, to begin stripping off the matrix.

9. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means for removably receiving a previously formed back, means for applying thereto a surface la er of plate metal, means for rendering said p sionable, means for simultaneously impressing the surface thereof with the matrix, and means for progressively cooling the impressed surface.

10. In an apparatus for making printing plates; mechanism for relatively moving, in progressive forming proximity, a matrix and a layer of type material in an impressionable condition, mcluding'means for pressing the matrix perpendicularly into the impressionable material, and means for simultaneously coolin said material as it is being formed.

11. ii an apparatus for making rinting plates,'means to move a matrix orward, means to deposit thereon progressively under pressure a layer of type material, includmatrix, and

moves, and means for cooling the deposited layer to a permanentl set condition while the matrix is still moving. 7

12. In an apparatus for making rinting plates, means to move a matrix orward, means to deposit thereon progressivel Y under pressure a layer of type material, including means for bringing'said material to an implates, a cylint er,

pressionable condition as the matrix moves, 1 means for cooling the deposited layer to a permanentlyset condition while the matrix is still moving, and means for strippin apart said set layer and matrix while stil moving.

13. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means for relatively moving a matrix and metal in an impressionable condition in such relation to each other as to impress the surface of the metal with the matrix, and means to strip the matrix from the cooled plate during said movement.

14. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means to apply a matrix progressively over the surface of metal reduced to an impressionable condition by heat, temperaturecontrolling means to bring said metal to said impressionable condition, means for immediately cooling the metal after its surface is so impressed, and means to compress the metal and matrix together while cooling.

15. In an apparatus for making printing plates, means, including a matrix, to form rogressively a printing face on a removable Back previously prepared, and means to simultaneously remove the matrix from the com )leted portion of the f ace without waiting for the com )leteforming of the entire printing face of t e plate.

16. In an ap aratus for making printing means thereon for positioning and retaining a previously pre ared back for a printing plate, a concave 1110 d co- 0 erating with said cylinder to form between t ie front face of said back and said mold a i'netal-receiving cavity, operating meansto' rotate said cylinder and back, and means to simultaneously feed in with the moving back a matrix against said mold and a surface metal in, an impressionable condition be- I tween said matrix and back, the aforesaid mechanism including means to compress said metal between the cylinder and matrix.

'17. In an ap aratus for making printing plates, a cylinr er, means thereon for positioning and retaining a previously pre ared back for a printing plate, a concave mo d cooperating with said cylinder to form between the front face of said back and said mold a metal-receiving cavity, operating means to rotate said cylinder and back, and means to simultaneously feed inwith the moving back plates, a ()YllIlt metal-receiving ,rotate said cy 1 a matrix against said mold and a surface metal in an impressionable condition between said matrix and back, said mold. having a portion ofits concave surface slightly eccentric to said cylinder and back for compressing the metal between the cylinder and matrix, as the cylinder, back, and matrix move forward with relation to said concave mold. l

18. In an ap aratus for making printing fer, means thereon for positioning and retainin a previously pre ared back for a printing pIate, a concave mo d cooperating with said cylinder to form between the front face of said back and said mold a metal-receiving cavity, operating means to rotate said cylinder and back, means to simultaneously feed in with the moving back a matrix against said mold anda surface metal in an impressionable condition between said matrix and back, the aforesaid mechanism including means to compress said metal between the cylinder and matrix, and said mold including means to hasten the cooling of the metal.

19. In an ap aratus for making printing plates, a cylinder, means thereon for posi- 'tioning and retainin a previously prepared back for a printing ate, a concave mo l cooperating with said cylinder to form between the front face of said back and said mold a cavity, operating means to nder and back; means to simultaneously feed in with the moving back a matrix against said mold and a surface metal in an impressionable condition between said matrix and back, the aforesaid mechanism including means to compress said metal between the cylinder and matrix, cooling means to hasten. the cooling of the metal, said operating means maintaining constant forward movement, and automatic means o erating when the forwardportion of the p ate is properly cooled to progressively re-. move the matrix therefrom.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN 0. DE we.

\Vi tnesses:

H. C. WESTPHALEN, FRANK W. PARTSCH. 

